MEDIA RELEASE for immediate release
Silo Theatre Delivers The Next Generation Of Performance
Silo Theatre presents
THE ENSEMBLE PROJECT
Two esteemed directors synonymous with the Auckland theatre. Eight young actors. Two shows. Silo Theatre once again
invites Oliver Driver and Michael Hurst to direct a thriving group of young talent for The Ensemble Project, beginning March 14th as part of Auckland Festival 09.
THE ENSEMBLE PROJECT has proved an invaluable experience for emerging actors; the project has been designed to provide a platform for some of
the country’s best young talent. Morgana O’Reilly, Curtis Vowell, Esther Stephens, Sophie Henderson, Barnie Duncan,
Sarah Thomson and Bonnie Soper are all 2007 graduates of The Ensemble Project.
Many of these young actors have returned to Silo Theatre and worked alongside the likes of Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Amanda
Billing, Peter Ellliott and Paolo Rotondo. Others have also appeared on national television – Morgana O’Reilly in the
core cast of A Thousand Apologies and Sarah Thomson and Bonnie Soper as continuing cast members of Shortland Street.
From a staggering five hundred submissions, Silo Theatre will be putting eight new aspiring performers through their
paces with a theatrical boot camp with help from a range of Silo Theatre alumnus, they will then take to the stage in
2009 to take part in two pieces which are designed to be performed in repertory.
Michael Hurst will be directing LIFE IS A DREAM, a dark fairytale from 17th Century dramatist Pedro Calderon de la Barca, emanating from the Spanish Golden Era. This
is one of the great poetic plays of the Spanish theatre, an exultant journey through a fairy-tale landscape of destiny,
desire and illusion. Michael Hurst will be working from a fresh and vital translation of LIFE IS A DREAM that was created for the Sydney Theatre Company.
Oliver Driver takes charge of the eight performers with BACK STORY, which is his own creation. The actors lead the audience through a construction of their own narrative. A work which
embraces who we are, where we live and celebrates our cultural inheritance. Today’s generation speak to us in today’s
idiom.
Silo Theatre is renowned for its discovery and investment in some of the countries finest young actors, THE ENSEMBLE
PROJECT continues this impressive tradition.
Silo Theatre’s Ensemble 09 are Johnny Bright, Rachel Forman, Renee Lyons, Natalie Medlock, Dan Musgrove, Bree Peters,
Sam Snedden and Fern Sutherland.
THE ENSEMBLE PROJECT plays
March 14th – April 11th
Performance times vary – please visit www.the-edge.co.nz for more details
Herald Theatre, THE EDGE®
Tickets: $20 - $39
Bookings: THE EDGE® Ticketing on 0800 BUY TICKETS or www.the-edge.co.nz
ENDS